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There are a few significant moments to acknowledge this week! 5th October marks ‘Do something nice day’ - go out of your way to do something nice especially for someone at work. This contributes to a positive, inclusive community in your workplace.
Wednesday 7th October marks world smile day. A landmark study by researchers at Oxford University's Saïd Business School found that workers are 13% more productive when they are happy and smiling.
Why Smiling Boosts Productivity
Physiological Feedback Loop: The facial feedback hypothesis demonstrates that the physical act of smiling—even a forced one—triggers the release of dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin. This lowers cortisol (stress) levels and boosts focus.
Cognitive Flexibility: Studies show that a positive mood broadens cognitive processing, making employees significantly better at problem-solving, creative thinking, and processing complex information faster.
Emotional Contagion: Smiling in team environments reduces workplace tension and increases trust, leading to faster collaborative decision-making.
Happiness boosts productivity by 13%
Workplace Movement and Fuel Protocol
This week why not try eating probiotic food each day to see if you feel a positive impact? Treat your daily nutrition like a structured training regimen. Consuming live foods at work requires deliberate selection and consistency to achieve optimal biological adaptation.
Select Whole, Unpasteurised Fermented Foods
Check labels for 'Live and Active Cultures'
Opt for naturally fermented foods rather than heavily processed versions. Pasteurisation kills the beneficial live microbes.
Top Choices: Raw kimchi, unpasteurised sauerkraut, plain kefir, live Greek yoghurt, and naturally brewed kombucha.
Time Your Intake for Maximum Bioavailability
Mid-Morning or Lunch Hour
Consume your probiotic food alongside a main meal or snack that includes prebiotic fibre (e.g., oats, flaxseed, bananas, or raw apples). Prebiotics act as fuel for the live bacteria, helping them survive gastric acid and colonise the lower GI tract.
Start Small to Prevent Digestive Friction
Gradual Adaptation Protocol
If live fermented foods are new to your diet, introduce them gradually to avoid mild bloating. Start with 1 tablespoon of sauerkraut or kimchi, or 100 ml of kefir per day, incrementing the dosage over 2–3 weeks.
Maintain Cool Chain Integrity
Office Refrigerator Storage
Live bacterial strains are heat-sensitive. Store all unpasteurised probiotic items in the office fridge below 5°C to keep the cultures viable until consumption.
Try it consistently for a week or more
Consciously appraise it - did I feel better?
Make it habit!
For more information on probiotics and their impact on productivity check out our resource page. Let us know how it went in the comments!